• In 1914, transcontinental telephone service began with the first test phone conversation between New York and San Francisco.

• In 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established.

• In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA.

• In 1985, the space shuttle Challenger began an eight-day mission that got off to a shaky start - the spacecraft achieved a safe orbit even though one of its main engines shut down prematurely after lift-off.

• Ten years ago: Yasser Arafat set off on a multi-country tour to drum up support for the Palestinians in the Middle East peace process.

• Five years ago: The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a U.S.-sponsored resolution expanding U.N. sanctions against al-Qaida terrorists and Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers to affiliates and splinter groups.

• One year ago: Microsoft and Yahoo announced a 10-year Internet search partnership, taking on the overwhelming dominance of Google in the online advertising market.

Thought for Today

"Charity looks at the need and not at the cause." - German proverb

Source: Associated Press

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